Apple may be planning to ditch carriers and offer its own wireless service

This is not really a new idea, but an analyst thinks that right now may be the best time possible for Apple to toss aside the pesky carrier system and begin to offer its own wireless service directly to iPhone and iPad customers. The idea of subverting the carrier system is one that we think of in terms of Google and the supposed push of the Nexus One to break the carrier stronghold (though we don't fully believe that was ever really the aim), but in regards to Apple the idea was one that came to light in the Steve Jobs bio. Jobs had wanted to replace carriers, and spent a lot of time on the idea in the years leading up to the original iPhone launch. Jobs' vision was to use unlicensed WiFi spectrum to create Apple's own carrier network.

Wireless industry strategist Whitey Bluestein doesn't posit as to how Apple would create its own wireless network, but he does believe that the time is right for the move to happen. Bluestein has a history of working with major wireless carriers and big name tech companies like Microsoft, Nokia and Best Buy. Bluestein says that Apple's infrastructure of retail distribution combined with its iTunes platform (and the stored payment data for 250 million people) give it the perfect base to launch its own wireless service, and Apple has pending patents from 2006 which pertain to network architecture.

Bluestein thinks that Apple will be the first to move on this, and leave Google "scrambling" to catch up. The logic there is that Google "lacks retail distribution, experience with subscriber services, and the iTunes ecosystem of content." We would definitely agree with the first two points there, but the Google Play store is catching up to iTunes in terms of content very quickly.

The only bump in the road for Apple would be in regards to carrier subsidies, which would quite obviously disappear if Apple were its own carrier. Apple could use its vast cash reserves to lessen that hit, but it would still be losing upwards of $380 per handset, unless it could convince customers to buy iPhones at full price. Of course, if carriers start to push back and lower Apple's huge device subsidies, that may be just the push needed for Apple to start its own carrier service.

With T-Mobile not looking so strong, not a far fetched idea. If this happens in the coming years, it could create a very good competitive environment for the consumer. Other carriers would have to essentially lower pricing on Apple handsets or give customers a credit, so as not to upset Cupertino, or even lower subsidized handset pricing all around again to highlight their carrier value. In a way, I kind of hope this does happen, but I can see Apple squeezing the cash cow from other networks first before they make their move.

Yeah I don't think it WILL ever happen. BOTH Verizon & AT&T are such HUGE players & have the most spectrum that an upstart from Apple even with its large bank accounts couldn't compete.

If Apple got a network up and running it will pale in comparison to both Verizon & AT&T. I don’t know how a Wi-Fi signal would reach the woods like Verizon’s signal does. People want to reduce carrier mobile towers not add more. I think people would not go for more towers & Apple might be screwed. Shoot I might even put Sprint in there because they have a large footprint also.

i dont think it would be a major player, but its a neat idea. They could easily do as Walmart, boost, virgin, or a dozen others do it.. and ride the backs of the big boys for expanded coverage.

The only big thing I see.. is I dont see a benefit. If Google got into that arena, it would be at a low price to mess with the system the way google likes to. If Apple got in, it would be against their nature to go in as the low priced carrier.. they would want to be a premium brand with a premium tag. At that rate, what would be the benefit of going to Apple Wireless for service? The one thing I could see for them as an advantage, would be to keep their prices just slightly lower than ATT/VZW, but give away iphones for contracts, since they would more than make up the subsidy on the 2 year contract. But again, that goes against every philosophy they currently have about premium pricing.. sooo... unless Cook really wants to change Apple's direction, I dont see them ever entering the space.

"Should" isn't the correct term here, cuz Tmo is the best available low cost servive on or off contract with highend smartphones, nationwide coverage n blazing HSDPA+. But "could" or "would" seem much more likely.

The only thing about this is using WiFi spectrum. Great if you live in a city, but once you're out of WiFi range (which is nowhere near as far reaching as cellular) you've got an iPod touch. So what then, get another phone for when you leave a metro area? In an emergency situation like car troubles or if you get lost, your iPhone becomes a shiny paperweight.

@taco how is that trolling? It's proven fact. The iphone4 was, and remains, the worst rated phone in terms of signal reception quality, call holding capability, and other connection issues in (new, that is, post-Cingular) AT&T's history. Apple admitted this with the bumper case fiasco and with the massive overhaul of the 4S' antenna designs and communication handling methods on the software level with later iOS updates, and with the design tweaks for the verizon 4 model.The software was revised to give data less of a priority (which is how it was initially designed and released, especially with iOS 4.0. It even affected 3G and 3GS owners who updated to it) and give more priority to voice services, which it should have had in the first place, being an iPHONE not an iPod+voice once in a while

Phone Arena has yet to post a single article, picture, blurb, or anything that agrees with you. You found one article that agrees with you in a sea of them that dont. If you dont trust PA's writing and news, then why are you here to begin with?
If you have such proof, where is it? The last time you posted "proof" it didnt agree with you at all.

You try to cherry pick hoping people wont read it. Unfortunately for you, they do... and they know you are full of crap.

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